Refugees In Jesus
I apologize in advance for my vagueness, but due to the nature of the story, it is necessary. Refugees have been in the news a lot lately, but this is a story of good news among refugees. In the one of the countries where I am involved in missions work, there is a large UNHCR […]
Short Missions Funnies Part 1
âA-Washedâ Away by Jim Pool My son and I were scampering around on the rocks of a rapids nearby to where our team had just finished baptizing 283 new Ethiopian followers of Jesus, and I slipped on a wet rock. I fell headfirst into the water (actually banging my head on the rocks once or […]
Finding God In A Sea Of Humanity
It was a hot day in Luanda, Angola, on the afternoon of the penultimate day of our gathering of African Vineyard leaders, and we were having our âcultural experienceâ exercise. More than 30 women and men from almost a dozen nations filled a big bus and we drove the streets of this bustling African city. […]
A Decade In Ethiopia: Better Together
In February 2018, the Ethiopian Partnership celebrated its 10th anniversary. Among us were six churches from four nations and three AVCs (Association of Vineyard Churches), not to mention the now 31 Ethiopian Vineyard churches along with their emerging national-level leadership team. International partners were present from all but one of the churches in the partnership. […]
10 Years In Ethiopia: Franklin Vineyard
Later in 2008, not long after the original group went, we sent a team of four to go and check it out: Tim, Jon, my son Mark, and me. We saw great need there and wanted to help in this land that is tied to the book of Acts. So every year, except one, we […]
South Sudan At Seven Years Old
South Sudan found its name and independence in 2011. Freedom of any kind is a sense of hope and promise, but the worldâs newest country is also one of its least developed – anywhere you look. There are no precise population figures, but in 2014, the World Bank estimated there were 11.91 million South Sudanese, […]
At Home Or Abroad, Posture Is Everything
In Mozambique, most places we visit lack running water, restrooms, etc. But Mozambicans understand the need for hygiene, so the custom is to offer a pitcher of water and a basin to wash your hands. The water is usually warmed over an open fire. Before any meal, when you enter a home, or even sometimes […]
We Praise The African Way | Cultural Context
On a recent trip, I had the opportunity to experience worship and ministry âthe African way,â as I visited three countries in eight days, witnessing the manifold ways Kingdom values are being contextualized in the various cultures of Africa. First stop was Cameroon. The Cameroonian team leader shared a small two bedroom apartment. For those […]
Brakes, Brakes, Transmission, And Tires In CĂ´te DâIvoire
Before we arrived in Africa, the other half of our team from the Vineyard Church of Central Illinois arrived in CĂ´te dâIvoire several days before we joined them. They had experienced mechanical problems with their vehicle, not to mention managing the complications caused by incredible flooding in their area. Days later, after we arrived, three […]
Missions Highlight: Tabitha
Tabitha came into our lives in June of 2009. She wandered in on the very first day we met in our brand new effort to plant a church in the nation of South Sudan. She had spent her entire life in and around the town of Bor, but she didnât look like she was at […]
